Adil Najam
The news is developing by the moment. But the bottom-line is clear. The security forces have taken control of the Lal Masjid from militants after a severe gun-battle. But the story is far from over.
It will continue to unfold. There are too many unanswered questions. They will certainly be asked and discussed threadbare; here at ATP and elsewhere. But the real story of tomorrow remains the same as the real story of yesterday. Can a society that is so deeply divided against itself learn the lessons of tolerance? This question will continue to haunt us well into the future, in multiple shapes, in multiple forms, in multiple contexts.
This is a question that we at ATP have confronted from our very beginning and will continue to confront. But now is not the time to ponder on this. Even though what has happened had become inevitable over the last many days, I am too heartbroken to be able to do so.
Right now I can think only of Muzammil Shah (photo, from Associated Press, above). This photo was taken as he waited for his son who was inside the Lal Masjid. I do not know whether his son was there voluntarily, or as hostage. But I do know what the look of Muzammil Shah’s face means. The more important question is whether his son came out alive or not. I pray that he did.
Analysts – me included – will discuss what happened at length. They will try to understand the meaning of all this. What does this mean for Pakistan politics? What does this mean for Gen. Musharraf’s future? What does this mean for Islam? For Democracy? Does the fault lie with Abdul Rashid Ghazi and his militant supporters for creating a situation that could only end this way? Why did he not surrender? Is the blood of everyone who died not on his head for his stubboness and arrogance? Or, maybe, it is the government that is to blame because it did not act earlier? Act differently? Waited just a few days more for a negotiated solution?
Right now all these questions seem really petty and small. This is not the time for scoring cheap political points. This is not the time for spin.
Moreover, there are too many questions to ask. To answer. The head hurts as you think of them. But the heart hurts even more as you look at the face of Muzammil Shah.
Maybe the only really important question is the one that you can read between his wrinkles: “Why? Oh God, why? Why must things happen this way?”
Regarding Lal Masjid Combat, how do you feel, please feel free to post your opinion.
Thanks.
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We can blame the religious establishment all we want but we’re the ones who have delegated ATR (All Things Religion) to them; We want one of them to lead prayers, celebrate birth, marriage, divorces, death, burial and so on.
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When did we tell them to start terrorism though? Now that they have gone the way of terrorism let the government despatch them to hell. No regrets there. Good riddance.
Shafique, if someone offend your teacher/parents and you scold that guy then should you be called “extremist”? On other hand if you don’t react just because you are open mind then would it be called enlightment or beghairti?
if that’s the definition then I am proud to be an extremist.
Few months back, ATP made posts about Punjab university cheater professors,people here condemned them and quit, nobody made statements like “professors tu hotey hee dhokey baz hain”,”professors are bikao maal” etc.
Recently I read many posts here about lawyers, people condemned concerned lawyers,nobody disrespected entire lawyers cabal by saying that they are cheaters and unfaithful but whenever a molvi comes into discussion then everyone jumps in and start giving his/her wisdom words includig graduates well known varsities. India made a movie “Munna bhai-I” which might be a funny for many people but to be honest in that movie they offended a professor . What if everyone starts calling every professor on earth “Mamoo” or “Takloo”? how would they feel? Not good na or its some civilized thing? i ask this from all resident professors, how would they feel if society starts calling them with such names? similarly how would a lawyer feel if everyone starts cursing them just because few laywers are helping govt too?
The way a molvi is cursed in PAKISTANI society ,only a molvi can tell a real story but since I experienced it in daily life that how people call their names, I bet it’s not easy to tolerate it at all. Imagine if all professors should started be calling MAMOO or cheaters due to punjab university teachers, they wouldn’t be able to tolerate it at all. ARe professors not highly respected people? when we can accept their mistakes then why a molvi is treated like a god? Ask yourself! Those professors or any other field person who offend molvi, I challenge them to deal same situation in real life then I would ask how does it feel.
We can blame the religious establishment all we want but we’re the ones who have delegated ATR (All Things Religion) to them; We want one of them to lead prayers, celebrate birth, marriage, divorces, death, burial and so on.
If disciplined study of religion was to become part of curriculum (K-12), no one would feel intimidated and apologetic to preface any religious discussion with “I’m not a scholar but…” and be prepared to challenge the establishment (religious or otherwise) with sound, learned point of view.
Our problems are our own creation and thus our earned reward.
Najmuddin Shaikh is his article
http://www.dawn.com/2007/07/11/op.htm
succinctly establishes breakdown of government machinery.
The only thing we can salvage immediately are the lessons learned.
I agree we should not make GOD out of Edhi or even worship him has a hero. But credit must be given were its due.
who don’t give credit? Don’t worry, i dont have peanut like brain like liberals who can only absorb things which they consider is “right”. I always appreciated work by Cowasjee for Karachi and Edhi for Humanity but if some of them start abusing my parent and I don’t react just because they worked good for karachi then it’s an absurd demand. The reason I mentioned my parents because this is very closed relation and even I am not some good practised muslim, I would sure react and respond these mentioned people if they try to offend Islam or islamic clergy, just like I would react on insulting of my parents
You have born right to disrespect anybody you want and no can stop you but don’t mind if we disrespect you unpar gawar mullahs
Huh, who STOP you psuedo intellectual to offend mullah. Most of the time you “educated” do here. Infact you should have written:
We have born right to disrespect every Islamic clergy but noone else have right to offend our GUYZ because we are intolerent.
someone should change the meaning of hypocrisy. ;)
You seem to be angry just because Edhi gave a statement against your mullahs
abhi tu aysa lagta hay k entire leftist cabal mey aag lagi huwi hey ;). I am enjoying :-)
What about Taqi Usmani?
having tv or not doesn’t mean someone is modern,its pretty childish and weark argument. I seldom watch tv because I don’t like it but I do use Internet. However Taqi Usmani’s islamic madarassah’s students are getting modern education like science and computers and their labs do have Internet connection,infact I was told they have dedicated line for school. =). I also added before that Taqi Usmani is chairman of Meezan Bank and Bank is not some ancient thingie. ;)
ust like you were angry when Sohaib Mansoor gave a statement against mullah junaid jamashe
yes as everybody knows that I try my best to pay respect molvis/mullah, the islamic clergy just like every other religious people respect their clergy. I am not ashamed of it. Why should I? just because few blacksheeps? they are in every fields including field of yours,mine and field of college professors. Offcourse you will feel disturb when someone curse your family member and you definately react someway or another. For me molvis are like my family members because they are religious mentors just like my school teachers were my mentors. Since you people use religion as a spare part therefore you will not understand this. You people didn’t respect any teachers in your life that’s why you reject everyone which you can’t comprehend by using your brain. No wonder people like you in different varsities offend professors like Adil,MQ and Tina.
-i am talking about Open Source and you brought MS in middle? huh? go spend some time on net,do some research and then come to me. Except pakistanis most of muslim nations are moving ahead in the field of technology.
Faraz,read again I already answered your questions in my previous posts and this as well. I don’t need to repeat one thing again and again.